Story 12 in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir, Arthur
Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Story number 12, the adventure
of the copper beeches. To the man who loves art for its
own sake, remarked Sherlock, Holmes tossing aside, the
advertisement sheet of the Daily Telegraph.
It is frequently in its least important and lowliest
manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived.
It is Pleasant to me to observe Watson that you have so far
grasped this truth that he needs.
Little records of our cases, which you have been good enough
to draw up. And I am bound to say
occasionally to embellish. You have given Prominence, not
so much to the many Coes celebra and Sensational, trials in which
I have figured, but rather to those incidents which may have
been trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those
faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis, which I have
made my special province. And yet said I smiling.
I cannot quite hold myself absolved from the charge of
sensationalism, which has been urged against my records.
You have earned perhaps he observed taking up a glowing
Cinder with the tongs and lighting with it, the long
Cherrywood pipe, which was won't to replace his clay when he was
in a disputatious rather than a meditative mood.
You have earned perhaps in attempting to put Colour and
life into each of your statements.
Instead of confining yourself to the task of placing upon record
that severe reasoning from cause to effect, which is really the
only notable feature about the thing.
It seems to me that I've Done You full Justice in the matter.
I remarked with some coldness for I was repelled by the
egotism, which I had more than once observed to be a strong
factor in my friends. Character.
No, it is not selfishness or conceit said he answering.
As was his wont, my thoughts, rather than my words if I claim
full Justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal
thing. Nothing Beyond Myself, crime, is
common. Logic is rare.
Therefore, it is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that
you should dwell. You have degraded.
What should have been a course of lectures.
Lectures into a series of tales. It was a cold morning of the
early spring and we sat after breakfast on either side of a
cheery fire in the old room at Baker Street.
A thick fog rolled down between the lines of dun-coloured houses
and the opposing Windows loomed like dark shapeless blurs
through the heavy yellow wreaths.
Our gas was lit and Shone on the white cloth and glimmer of China
and metal for the table. Had not been cleared yet.
Sherlock Holmes had been silent all the morning dipping
continuously into the advertisement Columns of a
succession of papers until at last having.
Apparently given up his search. He had emerged in.
No, very sweet. Temper to lecture me upon my
literary shortcomings. At the same time.
He remarked after a pause during which he had sat puffing at his
long pipe and gazing down into the fire.
You can hardly be open to a charge.
Sensationalism for out of these cases, which you have been so,
kind as to interest yourself in a fair proportion, do not treat
of crime in its legal sense at all.
The small matter in which I endeavored to help the king of
bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland.
The problem connected with the man with the twisted lip and the
incident of the noble Bachelor were all matters which are
outside the pale of the law. But in a Voiding The
Sensational, I fear that you may have bordered on the trivial.
The end may have been so I answered but the methods I hold
two have been novel and of Interest my dear fellow, what do
the public the great unobservant public?
Who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a compositor by
his left thumb care about the finer shades of analysis and
deduction. But indeed, if you are trivial,
I cannot blame you for the days of the great cases are past man,
or at least. Criminal man has lost all
Enterprise and originality as to my own little practice.
It seems to be degenerating into an agency for recovering lost
lead pencils and giving advice to young ladies from boarding
schools. I think that I have touched
bottom last. However, This note.
I had this morning marks. My zero-point.
I fancy read it. He tossed a crumpled letter
across to me. It was dated from Montague Place
upon the preceding evening and ran.
Thus dear. Mr. Holmes.
I'm very anxious to consult you as to, whether I should, or
should not accept a situation which has been offered to me as
governess. I shall call it 10:30 tomorrow.
If I do not inconvenience, you Yours Faithfully.
Violet Hunter. Do you know the young lady I
asked not I it is half-past ten now.
Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring.
It may turn out to be of more interest than you think.
You remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which
appeared to be a mere whim at first developed into a serious
investigation. It may be.
So in this case, also. Well, let's hope so, but our
doubts will very soon be solved for here.
Unless I Much mistaken is the person in question.
As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room.
She was plainly, but neatly dressed with a bright quick.
Face freckled like a plovers egg, and with the brisk manner
of a woman who has had her own way to make in the world.
You will excuse me for troubling you.
I'm sure said she as my companion, Rose to greet her,
but I've had a very strange experience.
And as I have no parents or relations of any sort from whom
I could ask advice. I thought that perhaps you would
be kind enough to tell me what I should do.
Pray. Take a seat Miss Hunter.
I shall be happy to do anything that I can to serve you.
I could see that Holmes was favourably, impressed by the
manner and the speech of his new client.
He looked her over in his searching fashion and then
composed himself with his Lids drooping and his fingertips
together to listen to her story. I have been a governess for five
years, said she in the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two
months ago, the colonel received an appointment at Halifax in
Nova Scotia and took his children over to America with
him. So, I found myself without a
situation, I advertised and I answered advertisements, but
without success at last a little money, which I had saved began
to run short and I was at my Wit's End as to what I should
do. There is a well-known Agency for
governesses in the West End called West aways.
And there, I used to call about once a week in order.
To see whether anything had turned up which might suit me,
westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it
is really managed by Miss stoper.
She sits in her own little office, and the ladies who are
seeking employment, wait in an anteroom, and are then shown in
one by one, when she consults her Ledger's and sees, whether
she has any Anything, which would suit them?
Well, when I called last week, I was shown into the little office
as usual, but I found that Miss stoper was not alone, a
prodigiously stout, man with a very smiling face and a great
heavy chin, which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat.
Sat at her elbow, with a pair of glasses on his nose.
Looking very earnestly at the ladies who entered As I came in,
he gave quite a jump in his chair and turned quickly to miss
stoper. That will do said he I could not
ask for anything better capital capital.
He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his hands together in the
most genial fashion. He was such a comfortable
looking man, but it was quite a pleasure to look at him.
You are looking for a situation. Miss.
He asked? Yes, sir as governess.
Yes, sir. And what salary?
Do you wish? I had four pounds a month in my
last place with Colonel Spence Munro.
Oh tut-tut sweating, rank sweating.
He cried throwing his fat hands out into the air, like a man who
is in a boiling passion. How could anyone offer?
So, pitiful, a sum to a lady with such attractions?
On the compliments. My accomplishments sir may be
less than you. Imagine said I a little French,
a little German music and drawing tapped at he cried.
This is all quite beside. The question.
The point is have you or have you not the bearing and
deportment of a lady there? It is in a nutshell.
If you have not, you are not fitted for the rearing of a
child who may someday play a considerable part in the history
of the country, but if Have why then?
How could any gentleman ask you to condescend to accept anything
under the three figures? Your salary with me Madam would
commence at £100 a year. You may imagine.
Mr. Holmes to me, destitute as I was such, an offer seemed almost
too good to be true. The gentleman.
However, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face,
opened pocketbook and took out a note.
It is also my custom said he smiling in the most Pleasant
fashion, until his eyes were just two little shining slits
amid, the white creases of his face to advance to my young
ladies, half their salary beforehand so that they may meet
any little expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.
It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so
thoughtful a man as I was already in debt to my Tradesmen.
The advance was a great convenience and yet there was
something unnatural about the whole transaction, which made me
wish to know a little more before I quite committed myself.
May I ask you where you live, sir?
Said I Hampshire Charming rural place.
The copper beeches five miles on the far side of Winchester.
It is the most lovely country. My dear young lady and the
dearest Old Country House. And my duty sir, I should be
glad to know what they would be one.
Child one, dear little Romper just six years old.
Oh, if you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper smack
smack, smack, three gone before you could wink.
He leaned back in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head.
Again. I was a little startled at the
nature of the child's Amusement, but the father's laughter made
me think that perhaps he was joking.
My sole duties. Then I asked her to take charge
of a single child. No, no, not the soul.
Not the sole. My dear young lady.
He cried your duty would be as I'm sure your good sense would
suggest to obey any To commands, my wife might give provided
always that they were such commands as a lady might with
propriety. Obey.
You see no difficulty here. I should be happy to make myself
useful quite so in dress. Now.
For example, we are fatty people, you know, fatty, but
kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any
dress, which we might give you, you would not object to our
little whim. Hey, no said I considerably
astonished at his words or to sit here or sit there.
That would not be offensive to you.
Oh, no or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us.
I could hardly believe my ears as you may observe.
Mr. Holmes. My hair is somewhat luxuriant
and of a rather peculiar tint of chestnut.
It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of sacrificing
it in his offhand fashion. I'm afraid that this is quite
impossible. Said I, he had been watching me
eagerly out of his small eyes and I could see a shadow pass
over his face. As I spoke.
I am afraid that it is quite essential said he it is a little
fancy of my wife's and ladies fancies, you know, Madam ladies
fancies must be consulted and so you won't cut your hair.
No, sir. I really could not I answered
firmly. Not very well, then that's quite
settles the matter. It is a Pity because, in other
respects, he would really have done very nicely in that case.
Miss stoper. I had best inspect a few more of
your young ladies. The manageress had sat all this
while busy with her papers without a word to either of us,
but she glanced at me now, with so much annoyance upon her face
that I could not help suspecting that she had lost a handsome
commission through my refusal. Do you desire your name to be
kept upon the books? She asked if you please miss
stoper. Well really, it seems rather
useless. Since you refused a most
excellent offers in this fashion said, she sharply you can Expect
us to exert ourselves to find another such opening for you.
Good day to you, Miss Hunter. She struck a Gong upon the
table, and I was shown out by the page.
Well, mr. Holmes, when I got back to my
lodgings and found little enough in the cupboard and two or three
bills upon the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not
done a very foolish thing. After all, if these people had
strange fads and expected. Obedience on the most
extraordinary matters. They were at least ready to pay
for their eccentricity very few. Governesses in England are
getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, what use was my hair to
me? Many people are improved by
wearing it short, and perhaps I should be among the number next
day. I was inclined to think that I
had made a mistake. And by the day after, I was sure
of it, I'd almost overcome my pride so far as to go back to
the agency and inquire whether the place was still open.
When I received this letter from the gentleman himself.
I have it here and I will It to you.
The copper beeches near Winchester.
Dear Miss Hunter. Miss stoper has very kindly
given me your address and I write from here to ask you
whether you have reconsidered your decision.
My wife is very anxious that you should come for.
She has been much attracted by my description of you.
We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter or 120 pounds a year.
So as to recompense you for any little inconvenience, which our
fads may cause you they are not very exacting.
After all, my wife is fond of a particular shade of electric
blue and would like you to wear such a dress indoors in the
morning. You need not.
However go to the expense of Purchasing one, as we have one
belonging to my dear daughter Alice, now in Philadelphia,
which would I should think, fits you very well then, as to
sitting here or there or amusing yourself in any manner indicated
that need cause you no inconvenience as regards your
hair. It is no doubt a Pity,
especially as I could not help remarking its beauty during our
short interview, but I'm afraid that I must remain firm upon
this point. Aunt and I only hope that the
increased salary May recompense you for the loss.
Your duties as far as the child is concerned are very light.
Now, do try to come and I shall meet you with the dog-cart at
Winchester. Let me know your train Yours
Faithfully, jeffro rucastle. That is the letter which I have
just received. Mr. Holmes.
And my mind is made up that I will accept it.
I thought, however, that before taking the final step.
I should like to submit the whole matter to your
consideration. Well, miss Hunter, if your mind
is made up that settles. The question said, Holmes
smiling, but you would not advise me to refuse.
I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to
see a sister of mine. Apply for.
What is the meaning of it all? Mr. Holmes?
I have no data. I cannot tell.
Perhaps you have yourself. Formed some opinion.
Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution.
Mr. Rucastle seemed to be very kind good-natured man.
Is it not possible that his wife is a lunatic that he desires to
keep the matter quiet for fear. She should be taken to an asylum
and that he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent
an outbreak. That is a possible solution.
In fact as matters stand, which is the most probable one.
But in any case, it does not seem to be a nice household for
a young lady. But the money mr.
Holmes, the money. Well, yes, of course, the pay is
good too good. That is what makes me uneasy.
Why should they give you 120 pounds a year when they could
have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some strong.
Reason behind. I thought that if I told you the
circumstances, you would understand afterwards.
If I wanted your help, I should feel so much stronger.
If I felt that you were at the back of me.
Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you.
I assure you that your little problem promises to be the most
interesting, which has come my way for some months.
There is something distinctly novel about some of the features
if you should find yourself in doubt or in danger.
Danger, what danger do you foresee Holmes shook his head
Gravely. It would cease to be a danger.
If we could Define. It said he.
But at any time day or night a telegram would bring me down to
your help. That is enough.
She Rose briskly from her chair with the anxiety.
All swept from her face. I shall go down to Hampshire
quite easy. My mind.
Now. I shall write to mr.
Rucastle, at once sacrifice my poor hair tonight and start for
Winchester tomorrow. With a few grateful words, to
Holmes, she bade us both goodnight and bustled off upon
her way. At least said I, as we heard her
quick firm steps descending the stairs.
She seems to be a young lady who's very well, able to take
care of herself. And she would need to be said,
Holmes, Gravely. I am much mistaken.
If we do not hear from her before, many days are past.
It was not very long before. My friends.
Prediction was fulfilled, a fortnight went by during which I
frequently found my thoughts turning in her Direction and
wondering what strange side alley of Human Experience.
This lonely woman had strayed into the unusual salary, the
Curious conditions, the Duties, all pointed to something
abnormal though, whether a fad or a plot or whether the man
were a philanthropist or a villain.
It was quite beyond my powers to determine As two homes, I
observed that he sat frequently for half an hour on end with
knitted brows and an abstracted air, but he swept the matter
away with a wave of his hand. When I mentioned it data data
data. He cried impatiently.
I can't make bricks without clay.
And yet he would always wind up by muttering that no sister of
his should ever have accepted such a situation.
The telegram which we eventually received came late one night
just as I was thinking of turning in and homes were
settling down to one of those all-night chemical researches,
which he frequently indulged in when I would leave him stooping
over a retort and a test-tube at night and find him in the same
position when I came down to breakfast in the morning.
He opened the yellow envelope, and then glancing at the message
through it across to me. Just look up the trains, in
bradshaw,', he and turned back to his chemical studies.
The summons was a brief and Urgent one.
Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midnight
tomorrow. It said, do come.
I'm at my Wit's End Hunter. Will you come up with me?
Asked Holmes glancing up. I should wish to just look it
up. Then there's a train at 9:30
said, I glancing over my Bradshaw.
It is due at Winchester at 11:30.
That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better
postpone my analysis of the acetones as we may need to be at
our best in the morning. By 11:00 the next day, we were
well on our way to the Old English.
Capital homes had been buried in the morning papers all the way
down. But after we had passed the
Hampshire border, he threw them down and began to admire, the
scenery. It was an ideal spring day, a
light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy, white clouds,
drifting across from west to east.
The Sun was shining very brightly.
And yet, there was an exhilarating nip in the air.
Which set an edge to a man's energy, all over the countryside
away to The Rolling Hills around Aldershot, the little red and
gray rules of The Farmstead ings peeped out from amid.
The light green of the new foliage.
Are they not fresh and beautiful?
I cried with all the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fog's of
Baker Street, but Holmes shook his head Gravely.
Do you know what sun' said? He that it is one of the curses
of a mind with a turn, like mine that I must look at everything
with reference to my own special subject.
You look at these scattered houses and you are impressed by
their beauty. I look at them and the only
thought, which comes to me is a feeling of their isolation and
of the impunity with which crime may be committed there.
Good Heavens. I cried, who would associate
crime with these dear old homesteads.
They always fill me with a certain horror.
It is my belief Watson founded upon my experience that the
lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more
Dreadful record of sin than does the smiling in the beautiful
countryside. You horrify me, but the reason
is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion
can do in the town, what? The law cannot accomplish.
There is no Lane, so vile that the scream of a tortured child.
The thud of a drunkards blow, does not beget sympathy and
indignation among the neighbours.
And then the whole Machinery of justice is ever so close.
That a word of complaint can set it going and there is but a step
between the crime and the doc, but look at these lonely houses
each in its own Fields, filled for the most part with poor
ignorant. Folk who know, little of the
law. Think of the Deeds of hellish
cruelty, the hidden wickedness, which may go on year in year out
in such places and none. The wiser had this lady who
appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester.
I should never have had a fear for her.
It is the five miles of country, which makes the danger still.
It is clear that she is not personally threatened.
Know, if she can come to Winchester to meet us.
She can get away quite. So she has her Freedom.
What can be the matter then. Can you suggest?
No explanation? I have devised, seven separate
explanations Each of which would cover the facts as far as we
know them. But which of these is correct.
Can only be determined by the fresh information, which we
shall no doubt find waiting for us.
Well, there is a tower of the cathedral and we shall soon,
learn all that Miss Hunter has to tell.
The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street at no
distance from the station. And there we found the young
lady waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room
and our lunch awaited us upon the table.
I am so delighted that you have come.
She said earnestly. It is so very kind of you both
but indeed, I do not know what I should do.
Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me.
Pray. Tell us what has happened to
you. I will do so and I must be quick
for. I've promised mr.
Rucastle to be back before three.
I got his leave to come into town this morning though.
He little knew for what purpose. Let us have everything in its
due order, Holmes thrust his long thin legs out towards the
fire and composed himself to listen.
In the first place. I'm I say that.
I've met on the whole with no actual ill-treatment from mr.
And mrs. Rucastle.
It is only fair to them to say that, but I cannot understand
them and I'm not easy in my mind about them.
What can you not understand their reasons for their conduct,
but you should have it all. Just as it occurred, when I came
down. Mr. Rucastle met me here and
drove me in his dog-cart to The Copper.
Our beaches it is as he said, beautifully situated, but it is
not beautiful. In itself for it is a large
Square block of a house whitewashed, but all stained and
streaked with damp and bad weather.
There are grounds round it Woods on three sides.
And on the fourth, a field which slopes down to the Southampton
highroad which curves passed about a hundred yards from the
front door. This ground in front belongs to
the house, but the woods all around are part of Lord
sotherton preserves, a clump of copper beeches immediately.
In front of the hall. Door has given its name to the
place. I was driven over by my employer
who was as amiable as ever and was introduced by him that
evening to his wife and the child.
There was no truth. Mr. Holmes in the conjecture
which seemed to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker
Street. Mrs. Rucastle is not mad.
I found her to be a silent pale-faced woman, much younger
than her husband. Not more than 30.
I should think while he can hardly be less than 45.
From the conversation. I have gathered that they have
been married about seven years that he was a widower and that
his only child by the first wife was the daughter has gone to
Philadelphia. Mr. Rucastle told me in private,
but the reason why she had left them was that.
She had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother.
As the daughter could not have been less than 20.
I can quite imagine that her position must have been
uncomfortable with her father's young wife.
Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well, as
in feature. She impressed me, neither
favourably, nor the reverse. She was a nonentity.
It was easy to see that she was passionately devoted, both to
her husband and to a little son. I like gray eyes.
Wandered continually from one to the other noting, every little
want and forestalling it if possible.
He was kind to her also in his bluff boisterous fashion and on
the whole they seem to be a happy couple and yet she had
some secret sorrow this woman. She would often be lost in deep
thought with the saddest look upon her face more than once.
I've surprised her in tears. I have thought sometimes that it
was the disposition of her child, which weighed upon her
mind for I have never met so utterly spoiled and so
ill-natured, a little creature. He is small for his age with a
head which is quite disproportionately.
Large his whole life appears to be spent in an alternation
between Savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking,
giving pain to any creature, weaker than himself.
Seems to be his one idea of amusement and Shows quite
remarkable talent in planning, the capture of mice, little
birds, and insects, but I would rather not talk about the
creature. Mr. Holmes, and indeed, he has
little to do with my story. I am glad of all details,
remarked my friend, whether they seem to you to be relevant or
not. I shall try not to miss anything
of importance to one unpleasant thing about the house, which
struck me at once was the appearance and conduct of the
servants. There are only two, a man and
his wife taller for that is. His name is a rough uncouth man
with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a Perpetual smell of drink
twice since I've been with them. He has been quite drunk and yet
mr. Rucastle seemed to take no
notice of it. His wife is very tall and a
strong woman with a sour face as silent as mrs.
Rucastle and much less amiable. They are our most unpleasant
couple, but fortunately, I spend most of my time in the nursery
and my own room which are next to each other in one corner of
the building. For two days after my arrival,
at the Copper beeches. My life was very quiet on the
third. Mrs. Rucastle came down just
after breakfast and whispered something to her husband.
Oh, yes. Said, he turning to me.
We are very much obliged to you, Miss Hunter for falling in with
our whims so far as to cut your hair.
I assure you. That it is not detracted in the
tiniest Iota from your appearance.
We shall now see how the electric-blue dress will become
you. You'll find it laid out upon the
bed in your room. And if you would be so good as
to put it on. We should both be extremely
obliged. The dress, which I found waiting
for me, was of a peculiar shade of blue.
It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it bore
unmistakable signs of having been warned before.
It could not have been a better fit.
If I had been measured for it both.
Mr. And mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at
look of it, which seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence.
They were waiting for me in the drawing room, which is a very
large room stretching along the entire front of the house with
three long Windows, reaching down to the floor.
A chair have been placed close to the central window with its
back. Turned towards it in this I was
asked to sit and then mr. Rucastle walking up and down on
the other side of the room began to tell me a series of the
funniest stories that I have ever listened to.
You cannot imagine how comically was and I laughed until I was
quite weary mrs. Rucastle.
However, who has evidently no sense of humor.
Never so much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap and a
sad anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, mr.
Rucastle suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the
duties of the day that I might change my dress and go to little
Edward in the nursery. Two days later.
This same performance was gone through under exactly similar
circumstances. Again.
I changed my dress again. I sat in the window.
And again, I laughed very heartily at the funny stories of
which my employer had an immense répertoire and which he told
inimitable e, then he handed me a yellow-backed novel and moving
my chair, a little sideways that my own shadow might not fall
upon the page. He begged me to Read aloud to
him. I read for about 10 minutes,
beginning in the heart of a chapter and then, suddenly in
the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and to
change my dress, you can easily imagine.
Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to what the meaning of this
extraordinary performance could possibly be.
They were always very careful. I observed to turn my face away
from the window so that I became consumed with the desire to see
what was going on behind my back.
At first it seemed to be impossible but I soon devised a
means my hand mirror have been broken.
So I happy thought seized me. And I concealed piece of the
glass in my handkerchief, on the next occasion, in the midst of
my laughter. I put my handkerchief up to my
eyes and was able to, with a little management to see all
that there was behind me. I confess that I was
disappointed. There was nothing at least.
That was my first impression at the Second Glance.
However, I perceived that there was a man standing in the
Southampton Road, a small bearded man, in a grey suit who
seemed to be looking in my direction.
The road is an important Highway and there are usually people
there. This man however was leaning
against the railings, which bordered our field and was
looking earnestly. Up are lowered my handkerchief
and glanced at mrs. Rucastle to find her eyes fixed
upon me with a most searching gaze.
She said nothing. But I am convinced that she had
divined, that I had a mirror in my hand and had seen what was
behind me. She Rose at once.
Jeff. Roe said she, There is an
impertinent fellow upon the road there, who stares up at Miss
Hunter? No friend of yours Miss Hunter.
He asked, no, I know no one in these parts.
Dear me how very impertinent kindly turn round and notion to
him to go away. Surely it would be better to
take no notice. No.
No, we should have him loitering here, always kindly, turn round
and wave him away like that. I did as I was told and at the
same instant, mrs. Rucastle, Drew Down The Blind.
That was a week ago. And from that time.
I have not sat again in the window nor have I worn the Blue
Dress nor seen the man in the road.
Pray, continue said Holmes, your narrative promises to be a most
interesting one. You will find it, rather
disconnected our fear, and their may prove to be a little
relation between the different incidents of which I speak.
On the very first day that I was, at the Copper beeches.
Mr. Rucastle took me to a small Outhouse, which stands near the
kitchen door as we approached it.
I heard the sharp rattling of a chain and the sounds of a large
animal moving about. Look in here said, Mr. Rucastle
showing me a slit between two planks.
Is he not a beauty? I looked through and was
conscious of two glowing eyes and of a vague figure huddled up
in the darkness. No, he frightened, said my
employer laughing at the start which I had given, its only
Carlo my Mastiff. I call him mine but really old
taller. My groom is the only man who can
do anything with him. We feed him once a day.
I'm not too much then so that he is always.
As Keen as mustard taller, lets him loose every night and God
help the trespasser. Whom he lays his fangs upon for
goodness sake. Don't you ever on any pretext
set your foot over the threshold at night for it's as much as
your life is worth. The warning was no idle one for
two nights later. I happened to look out of my
bedroom window about 2:00 in the morning.
It was a beautiful moonlight night.
And the lawn in front of the house was silvered over and
almost as bright as day. I was standing rapt in the
peaceful beauty of the scene. When I was aware, that something
was moving under the shadow of the copper beeches.
As it emerged into the Moonshine.
I saw what it was. It was a giant, dog, as large as
a calf. Tawny tinted with hanging jowl,
black muzzle, and huge, projecting bones.
It walks slowly across the lawn and vanished into the shadow
upon the other side. That Dreadful Sentinel sent a
chill to my heart, which I do not think that any burglar could
have done. And now I have a very strange
experience to tell you I had as, you know, cut off my hair in
London and I had placed it in a great coil at the bottom of my
trunk one evening. After the child was in bed.
I began to amuse myself by examining the furniture of my
room and by rearranging my own little things, there was an old
chest of drawers in the room. The two upper ones empty and
open the lower one locked. I had filled the first two with
my linen and as I had still much to pack away, I was naturally.
Annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer.
It struck me. That it might have been fastened
by a mere oversight. So I took out my bunch of keys
and try to open it very first key fitted to Perfection.
And I drew the drawer open. It was only one thing in it, but
I'm sure that you would never guess what it was.
It was my coil of hair. I took it up and examined it.
It was of the same peculiar tint and the same thickness, but then
the impossibility of the thing obtruded itself upon me, how
could my hair have been locked in the drawer?
With trembling hands? I undid my trunk turned out the
contents and Drew from the bottom.
My own hair. I laid the two Tresses together
and I assure you that they were identical.
Was it not extraordinary puzzle as I would I could make nothing
at all of what it meant. I return the strange hair to the
drawer and I said nothing of the matter to the rucastles.
As I felt that I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer
which they had locked. I Am Naturally observant as you
may have remarked. Mr. Holmes, and I soon had a
pretty good plan of the whole house.
In my head. There was one Wing however,
which appeared not to be inhabited at all.
All a door, which faced that? Which led into the quarters of
the toller's opened into this Suite, but it was invariably
locked one day. However, as I ascended, the
stair, I met mr. Rucastle coming out through this
door, his keys in his hand and a look on his face which made him
a very different person to the round jovial man to whom.
I was accustomed. His cheeks were red.
His brow was all crinkled with anger.
And the veins stood out at his temples with passion.
He locked the door and hurried past me without a word or a
look. This aroused my curiosity.
So when I went out for a walk in the grounds with my charge, I
strolled round to the side from which I could see the windows of
this part of the house. There were four of them in a row
three of which were simply dirty, while the fourth was
shuttered up. They were evidently all
deserted. As I strolled up and down
glancing at them occasionally. Mr. Rucastle came out to me
looking as Merry and jovial as ever.
Oh said he, you must not think me, rude, if I pass you without
a word. My dear young lady.
I was preoccupied with business matters.
I assured him that I was not offended.
By the way, said, I you seem to have quite a suite of spare
rooms up there and one of them has the shutters up.
He looked surprised and as it seemed to me a little startled
at my remark photography is one of my hobbies said, he I've made
my dark room up there. But dear me what?
An observant young lady. We have come upon, who would
have believed it. Who would have ever believed it.
He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest in his eyes as
he looked at me. I read suspicion there and
annoyance but no jest. Well, mr.
Holmes from the moment that I understood that there was
something about that Suite of rooms, which I was not to know.
I was all on fire to go over them.
It was Not Mere curiosity though.
I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of Duty, a
feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this
place. They talk of woman's Instinct,
perhaps it was Woman's instinct, which gave me that feeling at
any rate, it was there. And I was keenly on the lookout
for any chance to pass the Forbidden door.
It was only yesterday that the chance came.
I may tell you that besides mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his
wife, find something to do in these deserted rooms.
And I once saw him carrying a large black linen bag with him
through the door. Recently, he's been drinking
hard and yesterday evening. He was very drunk.
And when I came upstairs, there was the key in the door.
I have no doubt at all that he had left it there.
Mr. And mrs. Rucastle were both downstairs
and the child was with them. So that I had an admirable
opportunity. I turned the key gently in the
lock opened the door and slipped through.
There was a little passage in front of me and papered and
uncarpeted which turned at a right angle at the farther end
round this corner with three doors in a line, the first and
third of which were open. They each led into an empty
room, Dusty and cheerless with two windows in the one and one
in the other. So thick with dirt that the
evening light glimmered dimly through them.
The scented always closed and across the outside of it.
Had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed
padlocked, at one end to a ring in the wall and fastened at the
other with Stout cord. The door itself was locked as
well. And the key was not there.
This barricaded door corresponded, clearly with the
shuttered window outside. And yet, I could see by the
Glimmer from beneath it at the room was not Not in darkness.
Evidently. There was a skylight which let
in light from above as I stood in the passage gazing at the
Sinister door and wondering what secret it might Veil.
I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room and saw a
shadow pass backward and forward against the little slit of dim
light, which Shone out from under the door.
A mad, unreasoning Terror, rose up in me at the sight.
Mr. Holmes. My overstrung nerves failed.
Me suddenly. And I turned and ran ran as
though, some Dreadful hand were behind.
Me clutching at the skirt of my dress.
I rushed Down The Passage through the door and straight
into the arms of mr. Rucastle, who was waiting
outside. So said he smiling it was you
then. I thought it must be when I saw
the door open. Oh, I'm so frightened.
I panted my dear young lady, my dear young lady and what has
frightened you? My dear young lady.
But his voice was just a little too coaxing.
He overdid it. I was keenly on my guard against
him. I was foolish enough to go into
the empty Wing. I answered but it is.
So lonely. And Eerie in this dim light that
I was frightened and ran out again.
Oh it is so dreadfully still in there.
Only that said, he looking at me keenly.
Why, what did you think? I asked, why do you think that I
lock the door? I am sure that I do not know.
It is to keep people out who have no business there.
Do you see he was still smiling in that most amiable manner?
I'm sure if I had known well, then you know now.
And if you ever put your foot over that threshold again here
in an instant, the smile hardened into a grin of rage and
he glared down at me with a face of a demon.
I'll throw you to the Mastiff. I was so terrified.
As I do not know what I did. I suppose that I must have
rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing until I found
myself lying on my bed trembling all over.
Then. I thought of you.
Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer
without some advice. I was frightened of the House of
the man of the woman of the servants, even if the child,
they were all horrible to me. If I could only bring you down,
all will be well. Of course, I might have fled
from the house. But my curiosity was almost as
strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up.
I would send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak went
down to the office, which is about half a mile from the house
and then returned feeling very much easier.
A horrible doubt came into my mind.
As I approached the door, lest the dog might be loose, but I
remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of
insensibility that evening. And I knew that he was the only
one in the household who had any influence with the Savage
creature, or who would venture to set him free.
I slipped in in safety. And lay awake half the night in
my joy at the thought of seeing you.
I'll have no difficulty in getting leave to come into
Winchester this morning, but I must be back before 3:00 for mr.
And mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit
and will be away all the evening.
So that I must look after the child.
Now. I have told you all my
Adventures. Mr. Holmes and I should be very
glad if you could tell me what it all means and above all, what
I should do. Holmes and I had listened
Spellbound to this extraordinary story.
My friend Rose now and paced up and down the room.
His hands in his pockets and an expression of the most profound
gravity upon his face. Is taller still drunk.
He asked? Yes.
I heard his wife tell. Mrs. Rucastle that she could do
nothing with him. That is well and the rucastles
go out tonight. Yes.
Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?
Yes, The Wine Cellar? You seem to meet of acted all
through this matter, like a very brave and sensible, girl, Miss
Hunter. Do you think that you could
perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you.
If I did not think you quite an exceptional woman.
I will try. What is it?
We shall be at the Copper beeches by 7:00, my friend.
And I, the rucastles will be gone by that time and tala, will
we hope be incapable there? Only remains.
Mrs. Toller who? Give the alarm.
If you could send her into the Cellar, on some errand and then
turn the key upon her. You would facilitate matters
immensely. I will do it.
Excellent. We shall then look thoroughly
into the affair. Of course, there is only one
feasible explanation. You have been brought there to
personate someone and the real person is imprisoned in this
chamber. That is obvious as to who this
prisoner is. I have no doubt that it is the
daughter, Miss Alice rucastle. If I remember right, who was
said to have gone to America, you were chosen doubtless.
Plus as resembling her in height figure and the colour of your
hair, hers been cut off, very possibly in some illness
through, which she has passed. And so, of course, yours had to
be sacrificed also, by a curious chance, You Came Upon her
Tresses. The man in the road was
undoubtedly, some friend of hers.
Possibly her fiance and no doubt.
As you wore the girl's dress and were so like her he was
convinced from your laughter whenever he I saw you and
afterwards from your gesture that Miss rucastle was perfectly
happy and that she no longer desired his attentions.
The dog is let loose at night to prevent him from endeavouring to
communicate with her. So much is fairly clear.
The most serious point in this case is the disposition of the
child. What on Earth is that to do with
it? I ejaculated.
My dear Watson. You, as a medical man are
continually gaining light as to the Tendencies of a child by the
study of the parents. Don't you see that?
The converse is equally valid. I have frequently gained my
first real insight into the character of parents, by
studying their children. This child's disposition is
abnormally, cruel? Merely for cruelty's sake.
And whether he derives this from his smiling, father, as I should
suspect, or from his mother, It bodes evil for the poor girl,
who is in their power. I'm sure that you're right.
Mr. Holmes cried, our client, a thousand things come back to me,
which make me certain that you have hit it.
Oh, let us lose. Not an instant in bringing help
to this poor creature. We must be circumspect for.
We are dealing with a very cunning man.
We can do nothing until 7:00 at that hour.
We shall be with you and it will not be long before we solve the
mystery. We were as good as our word for
it was just seven when we reached the copper beeches.
Having put up our trap at a Wayside public-house the group
of trees with their dark leaves, shining like burnished metal in
the light of the Setting Sun were sufficient to Mark the
house even had Miss Hunter not been standing smiling on the
doorstep. Have you managed?
It asked Holmes a loud? Thudding noise came from
somewhere downstairs. That is mrs.
Toller in the seller said she her husband lies snoring on the
kitchen rug. Here are his keys which are the
duplicates of mr. Rucastles.
You have done. Well indeed cried Holmes with
enthusiasm now lead the way and we shall soon.
See the end of this black business.
We passed up the stair unlocked, the door followed on down, a
passage and found ourselves in front of the barricade which
Miss Hunter had described homes, cut the cord and remove the
transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys
in the lock, but without success no sound Came From Within and at
the silence homes face clouded over.
I trust that we are not too late said he I think Miss hunter that
we had better go in. Out, you now Watson, Put Your
Shoulder to it and we shall see whether we cannot make our way
in. It was an old rickety door and
gave it once before our United strength together.
We rushed into the room. It was empty.
There was no furniture, save a little pallet bed, a small table
and a basketful of linen. The Skylight above was open and
the Prisoner gone. There has been some villainy
here said, Holmes this Beauty has guessed Miss Hunters
intentions and has carried his victim off.
But how through the Skylight, we shall soon?
See how he managed it. He swung himself up onto the
roof. Oh, yes.
He cried his. The end of a long light ladder
against the eaves. That is how he did it, but it is
impossible, said Miss Hunter. The ladder was not there when
the rucastles went away. He has come back and done it.
I tell you that he is a clever and dangerous, man.
I should not be very much surprised.
If this were he whose step, I hear now upon the stair.
I think Watson that it would be as well for you to have your
pistol. Ready.
The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at
the door of the room, a very fat and Burly, man with a heavy
stick in his hand, Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the
wall at the sight of him. But Sherlock Holmes sprang
forward and confronted him. You villain said he where's your
daughter? The fat man cast his eyes around
and then up at the open Skylight, it is for me to ask
you that he shrieked. You thieves spies and thieves.
I have caught you have. I, you're in my power.
I will serve you. He turned and clattered down the
stairs as hard as he could go. He's gone for the dog cried,
Miss Hunter. I have My Revolver said, I
better close the front door, cried Holmes and we all rushed
down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall.
When we heard the baying of a hound and then a scream of Agony
with a horrible whirring sound, which it was Dreadful to listen
to an elderly man, with a red face and shaking limbs came
staggering out a side door. My God, he cried.
Some one is loose, the dog. It's not been fed for two days.
Quick quick or it'll be too late.
Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house
with taller. Hurrying behind us.
There was the huge famished brute.
It's black muzzle. Buried in rucastles throat while
he writhed and screamed upon the ground running up.
I blew its brains out and it fell over with its Keen white
teeth, still meeting in the great creases of his neck with
much Labour. We separated them and carried
him living, but horribly mangled into the house.
We laid him upon the drawing-room sofa and having
dispatched the sobered Toller to Bear the news to his wife.
I did what I could to relieve his pain.
We were all assembled round him when the door opened and a tall
gaunt woman. Entered the room.
Mrs. Toller, cried Miss Hunter. Yes, Miss.
Mr. Rucastle. Let me out when he came back
before. He went up to you.
I miss it is a pity. You didn't.
Let me know what you are planning for.
I would have told you that your pains were wasted.
Huh, said Holmes, looking keenly at her, it is clear that mrs.
Toller know. Knows more about this matter
than anyone else. Yes, sir.
I do. And I'm ready.
Enough to tell what I know. Then praise sit down and let us
hear it for there. Are several points on which I
must confess that I am still in the dark.
I will soon make it clear to, you said, she and I have done.
So before, now if I could have got out from a seller, if
there's police caught business over this, you'll remember that.
I was the one that stood your friend.
And that I was Miss Alice's friend to.
She was never happy at home. Miss.
Alice wasn't from the time that her father married again.
She was slighted like and had no say in anything, but it never
really became bad for her until after she met mr.
Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could learn Miss
Alice had rights of her own by Will.
But she was so quiet and patient, she was, but she never
said a word about them, but just left everything in mr.
Rucastles hands. He knew he was safe with her,
but when there was a chance of a husband coming forward, who
would ask for all that? The law would give him.
Then her father thought it time to put a stop on it.
He wanted her to sign a paper so that whether she married or not,
he could use her money when she wouldn't do it.
He kept on worrying her until she got brain-fever and for six
weeks was at death's door. And she got better at last all
worn to a shadow and with her beautiful hair cut off, but that
didn't make no change in her young man and he stuck to her as
true as a man could be. Ah said Holmes, I think that
what you have been good enough to tell us makes the matter
fairly clear and that I can deduce.
All That Remains. Mr. Rucastle then I presume took
to this system of imprisonment. Yes, sir and brought Miss Hunter
down from London in order to get rid of the disagreeable
Persistence of mr. Fowler.
That was it, sir. But mr.
Fowler being a persevering, man, as a good, Seaman should be
Blockaded the house and having met you succeeded by certain
arguments metallic or otherwise in convincing.
You that your interests were the same as his.
Mr. Fallow is a very kind spoken free, and it gentleman said mrs.
Toller serenely. And in this way, he managed at
your good man should have no want of drink and that a ladder
should be ready at the moment when your master had gone out.
You have it sir. Just as it happened.
I am sure we owe you an apology. Mrs. Toller said Holmes for you
have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us.
And here comes the country surgeon and mrs.
Rucastle. So I think Watson that we had
best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester.
As it seems to me that our Locus standi now is rather a
questionable one. And thus was solved, the mystery
of the Sinister house with the copper beeches in front of the
door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but was
always a Broken Man. Kept alive, solely through the
care of his devoted wife. They still live with their old
servants, who probably know, so much of rucastles past life that
he finds it difficult to part from them.
Mr. Fowler, and Miss rucastle, were married by special license
in Southampton, the day after their flight and he is now the
holder of a government appointment.
In the island of Mauritius as Thomas violent, Hunter, my
friend homes, rather to my disappointment manifested.
No further interest in her, when once she had ceased to be the
Centre of one of his problems. And she is now the head of a
private school at Walsall where I believe that she has met with
considerable success. End of the adventure of the
copper beeches and the last story in The Adventures of
Sherlock Holmes by Sir, Arthur Conan Doyle.
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